XXIX: King's Word
Katara and Aang held hands as the ship carried them towards the city of Ba Sing Se, and they watched the sea. Sokka and Suki were playing at practicing their warrior skills by trying out Kyoshi warrior forms and practicing at tossing Sokka's boomerang, complete with a practice dummy.
Realizing that his friends were busy, Zuko went below deck and met up with the Children of Raava and see how they were doing, but while he planned on training them, if need be, those who were true Children of Raava had promptly swarmed him and asked him about his experiences in the Dragon State. As he talked, he finally learned the names of the true Children of Raava: of Earth there was Zhu Lin, from the Water Tribe was Narrik, and of Fire was Jade. He managed to teach them some Firebending techniques that he knew translated well into other forms of bending until Sokka came down to watch them.
"I thought that I might find you here." He stated.
"Sokka, what's going on?" Zuko asked.
"We're nearing the shores leading to Ba Sing Se. I figured that you'd want to know."
"Thanks, Sokka, Children of Raava, the city of Ba Sing Se is massive, and I'd hate for any of you to get lost there, but it might also be a good place to gather new members. So it is up to you all if you want to leave the ship, but if you do, please stick together. I'd hope to be back here by this sundown." Zuko spoke.
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King Kuei stood before a map in his throne room with the Fire Nation Colonies marked out, his pet bear at his side when his guard announced the arrival of Fire Lord Zuko and Avatar Aang.
"You, I remember you from before, you're the new Fire Lord?" King Kuei questioned.
"Yes, you met me while I was in my exile, but now my father's been removed from power and my birthright was reinstated." Zuko replied.
"You were also one that aided to overthrow me!" King Kuei exclaimed.
"Your Majesty, please, we need to be civil. What matters is that you're back in power now." Zuko stated calmly.
"He's right your Earthiness. We wish to discuss matters involving the Fire Nation colonies." Aang stated.
"Very well, and do you have any propositions?" King Kuei asked. Zuko stepped forward and explained: "For my father's dishonorable actions, I've resolved to strip him of his title and imprison him. All monuments of him have been destroyed and I plan on returning the lands of the colonies established during his reign back to the Earth Kingdom."
"Well now, this seems to work in a good favor, but I've taken note that in comparison to the Fire Lords' Sozin and Azulon, that your father had a remarkably short reign and had established very few colonies."
"Ozai did only have claim to the throne for five years." Zuko told the King.
"So, what about the rest of the colonies? In my travels, I've learned that the colonies are a reminder of the pain that the Fire Nation has caused my people, it's like an old scar… No offense Fire Lord…" King Kuei spoke, he gestured to Zuko's face at the word 'scar', but before Zuko could say anything, the King continued: "So I've a resolve to further heal my people, and we can only achieve that if their lands were returned to them, under my power."
"With all do respect, your majesty, Fire Nation blood was spilled too, their sweat went into helping to establish those colonies, and the oldest ones now have families that have their roots in those colonies, they have nothing to go to if they're forced to go to the Fire Nation."
"So you're telling me that you wish to keep your colonies? After all the suffering your forefathers have caused my people, the blood that was shed, the pain that still remains to this day, how you've humiliated this kingdom, and you're saying that you want to keep the rest of the colonies standing! Fire Lord Zuko, I'll not have my people suffer anymore. Our nations will be separate, and that will be the only way we can achieve peace. Fire Lord Zuko, I demand that you remove all of your colonies, and that all Fire Nation citizens return to their lands of origin!"
"King Kuei, if you'll hear me out, you'll understand that your request is outrageous." Zuko spoke.
"Outrageous?! The Fire Nation didn't think it outrageous when they decided to commit the genocide of the Air Nomads and invade my nation! Fire Lord Zuko, I insist that you remove all colonies for the good of our people!"
"King Kuei, Fire Lord Zuko has a legitimate point in keeping some of his colonies, if you would just hear him out!" Aang exclaimed.
"Avatar Aang, could you really be standing up for the ruler of the Fire Nation after all he's done and after the crimes of his forefathers? Well, I will no longer stand around and be bullied while others decide the fate of my people. My chief advisor, the Fire Nation, they've all made a fool out of me, and I will no longer allow my people to feel the same way. So if you're not going to remove the colonies yourself, then I'll remove them by force!" King Kuei declared.
"Sir, you don't understand, this has nothing to do with you looking like a fool; this is about the lives of both of our people, and how we should go about to make their lives better! Removing the older colonies will not be the answer." Zuko told him.
"Fire Lord Zuko, I'm willing to force those colonies out. Your citizens belong in the Fire Nation where they will no longer torment the Earth Kingdom, and my decision is final. I'll start with the removal of Yu Dao when my army is ready!"
With a heavy heart, Zuko sighed and told him: "Then I will see you on the battlefield."
The rulers parted ways, ignoring Aang's pleas to stick around and talk everything out, but there was no reasoning with the Earth King, and with the Earth King being unreasonable then for Zuko to try and reason with him would be nothing but a waste of time.
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Back on the ship, Katara and the Children of Raava went into Aang's room, the Avatar was trying to contemplate the state of things when Katara asked: "Sweetie, what happened at the palace?"
"The King doesn't know what he's getting himself into. He wouldn't listen to reason when Zuko stated that he wished to leave the colonies to stand."
"Oh dear, what are we going to do?" Katara asked.
"The King's already decided, he's declaring war on the Fire Nation over the colonies!"
"What about Fire Lord Zuko?" Jade asked.
"He'll be fighting to defend his people!" Aang replied.
"What about us?" Narrik questioned. Aang got to his feet, looked over the Children of Raava, and told them: "As the Children of Raava what you do now is entirely up to you. You are not bound to Fire Lord Zuko's rule, and so it is up to you to decide where you wish to lend your support. Will you fight along your brother Zuko's side? Will stand with the Earth King? Will you take no side but treat their wounded? Or will you figure out another path? The choice is yours."
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Sokka went to see Zuko and found him stooped over his desk as he wrote some letters.
"What's going on?" Sokka asked. Zuko looked his way and turned to tell him: "I'm glad you're here, I could use your assistance."
"Okay, so what will that be?"
"The Earth King wants none of the colonies to stay and is willing to drive them out by force. I need to hurry to protect the people of both nations before the King's army strikes. Here, take this letter to Mayor Morishita, it's a warning of the King's plan, and you can help them rally a resistance maybe have them put up some defenses. Ask Aang if you could borrow Appa to get there."
'Sure thing, but what are you going to do?" Sokka asked.
"I need to get my army involved, so I'm sending out another letter to my general to let them know to get things ready." Zuko replied.
"What about your and Aang's club of super-benders? Can't you just use them?"
"No, the Children of Raava are no one's soldiers. They're to fight for those they believe are worth fighting for. They're to act as another Avatar when the actual Avatar can't be there for others. Now you need to get going Sokka."
"Of course, I'll see you there." He replied. He took the letter and found Aang kissing faces with Katara, after pulling a disgusted face he explained that he needed to borrow Appa to send a warning to Yu Dao, and Aang let him.
Just as Sokka was taking off, a messenger hawk took flight with a letter for the Fire Nation Army.
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AUTHOR'S QUESTION: In comparison to the TV show, what do you guys think of this story, and what has been your favorite part so far?
